Good Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

If you're looking to shut the world off and concentrate on your music, great over-ear noise cancelling headphones are essential. You can use them for your commute, travel or even for working from home.

We've reviewed the Best over ear headphones noise cancelling options to help you select. Here are our picks according to the factors that matter most to us and to our testers:.

1. Comfort

The best over ear headphones noise-cancelling noise cancelling headphones for over-ears can sit comfortably on your head and stay in position even when you move. The ear cups must be well-padded to block out background noise. This is particularly important for those who listen to audiobooks, music, and podcasts on the move or at home. The ear cup pads should be flexible and soft to accommodate different sizes and shapes and the headband should be padded to ensure it is comfortable to wear all day long.

Choosing the right pair of noise-canceling headphones comes down to your particular needs and budget. Apple's AirPods Max has quickly taken some market share from long-standing market leaders like Bose, Sony and Sony. There are also affordable options from brands like monoprice that offer many of the features of more expensive models for only a fraction of the cost.

For instance, the monoprice BT-600ANC offer active noise cancellation and ambient awareness modes, touch controls and high-quality audio codec support for your favorite audio apps. The ear cups are a bit less bulky than Bose's most recent models, so they should be a good fit for most people. They are also quite affordable, costing about the same as a pair high-quality noise-canceling headphones.

If you're willing to spend more, the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 will impress you with their build quality and sound quality. They combine subtlety and style in a way that not many other headphones can, with die-cast aluminum arms and diamond-cut bright metal details that make the headphones look as gorgeous as they feel.

Their noise-canceling capabilities are a bit less robust than the most highly-rated Bose QC35 II and QC45 however, our Lab Assistant found them to be very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They were able to block out the sound of an airplane engine, train tracks, and other loud sounds, but not the squealing brakes or the roar of other passengers. The headphones didn't have passive isolation which is something we look for when selecting the best headphones to block office chatter or other distracting background noises in your home.

2. Sound

Noise cancelling headphones can cut out the din around you and help you concentrate in a noisy workplace or to get some sleep on a plane. But the quality of the sound that comes through the headphones is equally important. You'll want to listen to podcasts and music with as much clarity and volume as you can in a quiet space.

The earcups and the bud that seal the ear canals in the headphones also play a part in good isolation. It is essential to prevent external noises from affecting the audio experience. You can achieve this by wearing headphones that have active noise cancellation that have built-in microphones which actively produce opposing sound to block out ambient sounds. Earbuds, which don't use active noise cancellation technology, aren't as isolating but still offer good noise isolation thanks to their design and the tight seal that you get when they fit your ears well.

We test for a range of elements to determine the best over ear headphones for noise cancellation, including their ability to suppress low-frequency ambient noises like the noise of a train engine or the drone of an airplane, as well as high-frequency continuous sounds like conversation or chatter. We also test the quality of the sound produced by the headphones, such as midrange, bass and treble clarity and whether or not they offer an authentic distinction between the sounds of instruments and voices.

Our top choice is the Sony WH-1000XM5, which have excellent noise cancellation that dampens the noise of a plane or the rumble of a subway car without suffocating the sound of your movie or playlist. They offer great passive isolation, and include many useful extras like the capability for your media to automatically paused when you take the headphones.

Bose's QuietComfort 45 headphones provide similar sound quality, with clear highs and clear mids. They're slightly more expensive than the XM4s, but not enough that they're not worth a look. The headphones have a few minor flaws: You can't alter the amount of active sound cancellation. It's either on, or off. It's also not possible to enable the transparency mode, which lets in some outside sound and they do not have the ability to detect your ears, which prompts your phone to switch to the headset once you take them off.

3. Noise Cancellation

Anyone who uses headphones for long periods of time will benefit from noise cancelling. This is true regardless of whether they use headphones for work, listen to podcasts or read, or listen to music or movies on a train or plane. The most effective noise-canceling headphones need to do more than just block out ambient noise. In our tests, we evaluated the noise-canceling capabilities of headphones using audio spectrum analysis as well as subjective listening tests.

We also looked for a pair of headphones that were comfortable, of high-quality construction, and offered high-quality audio performance. We also assessed the effectiveness of their ability to block noises of short duration, like the whirrrr of a computer or lawnmower next door, as well as the higher frequency noises. We also analyzed the level of isolation provided by a pair of headphones, and if they would be effective in blocking out the sound by covering your ears with the ear cups.

Over-ear models generally offer better noise cancellation than earbuds, because they're designed to fully protect your ears and shield your ears from noise. We evaluated the ANC performance of various models of headphones for best budget noise cancelling headphones over-ear that include models from Bose and Sony to find out which ones are the best budget noise cancelling headphones at removing external noise while offering top-quality audio.

In our review of the Sony WH1000XM5 headphones, we found that they offer a combination of high-quality sound and comfort along with superior noise cancellation. They also support the hi-res audio codec LDAC that delivers a much more immersive experience than standard Bluetooth headphones. They also have a an programmable physical button that allows you to choose between three different ANC levels for optimal listening on any device.

The Monoprice BT-600ANC is a light, affordable pair of over-ear headphones that provide a remarkable quality of noise reduction as well as audio fidelity for the price. They're not the most comfortable headphones to wear for long durations of time, but they are capable of separating your ears from the surrounding noise and allowing you to get lost in your favorite tunes.

If you're looking for a fantastic pair of noise-canceling headphones at an even more affordable price, check out the Sony WH-XB910N. The "XB" in their name stands for extra bass, and while they do meet their promise, we prefer Bose's ANC performance and the overall design of the WH-1000XM5 headphones.

4. Battery Life

If you're going to drop a couple hundred bucks on headphones that block out noise headphones, you'll want to be sure they'll last. The best over-ear noise cancelling headphones will have a long battery lifespan that will last through a long flight or a week of daily commutes. That's why we always examine the battery life when we conduct our testing of wireless headphones.

In our tests, we've found that the best ANC headphones come with at least 30 hours of battery life. That's enough to last through a long, international flight or a full workweek of commutes and meetings. Many models exceed the limit. Some models even have 60 hours of active noise cancellation.

It is important to be aware that although some headphones last longer but the quality of audio will decrease as the battery drains. This is evident when the sound becomes muddy and the bass becomes less punchy. However, most people won't notice this difference, especially if you are only listening to music that is quiet or podcasts.

The latest Sennheiser Momentum 4 over-ear headphones are designed to be stylish and comfortable while offering the essential features that shoppers want in their audio headsets. They come with a better ANC, a useful app to control the headphones, and superb audio quality. The headphones are half the price of Sony's flagship models which means you can enjoy excellent ANC without the costly price tag.

Monoprice BT600ANC headphones are another pair to consider. They're budget-friendly, but provide excellent performance. They're lightweight and comfortable with a well-designed headband that's comfortable on the ears. Touch controls, AAC and aptX support are included for high-quality audio. They are compatible with iOS and Android devices. They're not as well-received as the Bose QuietComfort 45, but they're a great choice for those on a tight budget.

Noise-canceling headphones are a great investment for frequent travel, office workers, and anyone who needs to block out distracting noises while listening to an podcast or audiobook. They can be more expensive, but they're worth it when you're constantly on the move.